BROWNSVILLE, Vermont ??” As the Plausteiners enter their 12th season as owners of Ascutney Mountain Resort and embark on the resort’s 60th anniversary, capital improvements continue to help the resort grow into one of New England’s premier family ski vacation destinations. This summer and fall, the owners spent upwards of $2.5M in the areas of snowmaking, grooming, hotel and spa facilities, plus in new programming and future plans.

Snowmaking and Grooming
Recent negotiations with the Central Vermont Public Service are complete and CVPS plans to increase the capacity of the transmission lines serving Ascutney, providing approximately twice as much electrical power than has been available in the past. This means more power for snowmaking and the ability to make snow for longer durations without doubling electric bills.

The resort has also purchased 100 additional snow guns to complement the existing system and plans to purchase additional snowmaking compressors for the upcoming season to increase the volume of snow that can be made in one specific timeframe. A new grooming vehicle has been added to the fleet as well.

Hotel Renovations
Renovations in 215 rooms of the hotel including all new drapery and artwork, which began last season, are nearly complete. Hotel condominium unit renovations included new carpeting, ceramic tile flooring in both kitchen and bathroom areas, bed covers, paint, draperies, artwork and new furniture. With the main hotel receiving a total facelift, the hotel design firm Jutras Nobili Dougenik has been selected to design and coordinate the total refurbishment of the hotel lobby and Sports and Fitness Center, including the addition of a new Health Spa. Both projects are expected to be complete by December 2005.

Resort Village Facelift
This fall, the Resort Village will receive a complete facelift with a new color scheme, improved walkways, new signage and decorative lamp posts.

Snowboard Development Team with Former X-Games Design Technician Sam Bachhuber
Vice President of the Snowboard Division of USCSA (United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association) Sam Bachhuber joins Ascutney this season to lead the resort’s first Snowboard Development Team. Bachhuber’s goal is to help grow the talents of young snowboarders who have stepped beyond the levels of what the resort’s Young Olympians program offers.

Bachhuber was a key player preparing terrain for the X-Games at Mount Snow. While at Mount Snow he held the position of operations manager for the Alpine Training Center and organized ski and snowboard freestyle competitions. He will be involved in the planning and technical design of six collegiate snowboard events at Ascutney this season. In addition, the resort is in discussion with USCSA to bring amateur snowboard events to Ascutney this year.

Vermont Telemark Guru Dickie Hall Hosts Telemark Workshop March 4-5, 2006The two-day program is the most complete two-day on snow Telemark clinic offered in North America and is designed for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced telemarkers. The focus for two days is on plenty of skiing, technique analysis with video taping, corrective exercises, skill building skiing games and casual and focused coaching on personal skiing styles. On-snow plus indoor sessions are used to learn and develop body positions, linking turns, single and double poling, and more.

Space is limited and preregistration is required. Two-day lodging packages include lift tickets and slopeside hotel room starting at $178 per person. Clinic is only $175. For more information or to make a reservation, call 800.243.0011 or visit www.telemarknato.com.

Summary of 2000 to present

• New North Peak Express Quad and North Peak Expansion unveiled; $3M final phase of the North Peak expansion is completed and includes a mile-long CTEC Stealth High Speed Detachable Quad.
• Five new trails at the top of the mountain, bringing the ski area vertical rise to 1,800 feet.
• Strategic implementation of renovation, restoration and enhancement of all Resort facilities and amenities completed.
• New Terrain Park, complete with a state-of-the-art sound system.
• The development of cross country skiing and snowshoe trails.
• New on-site “Alpine Cinema,” featuring new release family films, DVD big screen quality and state-of-the-art sound system.